The National FFA Organization, the leading school-based student leadership organization in the U.S. with over one million members, recently held its first Next Gen Conference of the year in Orlando, Florida, from March 4-8. Blake Mertens, a junior from Berlin High School, was fortunate to attend this event with the generous support of the Berlin FFA Alumni.
Next Gen Conferences are designed to help FFA student members explore future career opportunities in agriculture. This year, the conference brought together 75 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to learn about careers in plant science through informational sessions, roundtable discussions, and company tours. These conferences are a vital way for FFA to prepare students for over 350 careers in agriculture, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for their next steps after high school graduation.
Blake was asked, "What was your favorite experience at the Next Gen Conference?"
"My favorite experience was the Showcase of Citrus farm tour because we saw how weather can have a significant impact on the agriculture industry and how people can come together to overcome these hardships. They replanted most of their citrus trees after a frost destroyed much of their crop. They needed to come up with creative ways to keep people coming out to their farm. We also saw the impact of development around the farms on our tours and the work it takes to keep them in business or in the family."
The 75 students who participated were selected from a competitive applicant pool. Applicants shared information about their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), which allows students to apply concepts learned in the classroom to real-world internships or entrepreneurial projects. The SAEs of attendees included landscape installation placements, greenhouse management, vegetable production, and nursery operations. Among the 75 selected students, 12 hailed from Wisconsin.
Next Generation Conferences occur three times a year, aimed at cultivating the leaders of tomorrow who will nourish, energize, clothe, and sustain our world. These events offer vital educational and career exploration experiences, equipping students for success after graduation.
"Blake, how do you plan to apply one key lesson you learned to your future in agriculture?"
"In the future, I strive to continue the legacy of our family farm here in Berlin. During our tours, we heard several stories of land and businesses being passed down from generation to generation. They all discussed how the next generation needs to continue to keep up with current trends in order to keep that family legacy alive and prosperous. I hope to apply that learning to my family farm and to be able to pass it on to future generations."
We express our sincere gratitude to the Berlin FFA Alumni for their support of Blake in this unique opportunity. Berlin High School takes immense pride in its FFA students and the bright future they represent in the field of agriculture.